Alger

Alger, known in English as Algiers and in French as Alger, is the capital and largest city of Algeria. It lies on the northern Mediterranean coast, at the mouth of the Oued el-Kebir, and forms the core of the Algiers metropolitan area. The city proper has about one million residents, with the wider metropolitan area home to several million more. The historic Casbah, a maze of narrow streets on a hillside above the harbor, is a prominent feature of the city.

Historically, Algiers developed under Ottoman rule as the capital of the Regency of Algiers and a major center for Mediterranean trade and diplomacy. From the 16th to the 18th century it was a base for Barbary pirates and a hub of regional commerce. It was occupied by France in 1830 and remained the capital of French Algeria until independence in 1962. The Casbah and other districts preserve distinctive architecture and urban forms, and the Casbah was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 for its historical significance.

Key landmarks include the Casbah of Algiers, the Notre-Dame d’Afrique Basilica perched above the bay, and the Martyrs’ Memorial (Mémorial du Martyr) near the city center. The city also features modern administrative and commercial districts, a busy port, and cultural institutions such as theaters and universities.

Algiers serves as Algeria’s political and administrative heart and a major economic center in the region. The port handles commercial traffic and ferries to neighboring destinations, and the city is served by an international airport, Houari Boumediene, along with a growing public transport network that includes a metro line and tramways. The languages of daily life commonly include Arabic and French.